the suh family

Deceived

05Mar10

Well, Halim is preparing to teach a sermon on sin this Sunday and I’m preparing to teach a lesson on sin in our Finally Alive class on Sunday. I guess in preparation for those things, I’ve been doing a lot of sinning this week.

I understand Eve. I know why she did what she did. I would’ve done it to. The serpent comes along and says, “Surely God didn’t tell you not to eat of the fruit of this tree? Ha! It’s just because He doesn’t want you to be like Him, knowing both good and evil.” Eve sees that there is potentially another path, different than what God has called her to. In her heart she wants this alternative because, well, what if it’s better than what she has been given? What if she’s missing out? She looks at the fruit . . . it appears pleasing to her eye. So she eats.

Ah, Eve, I would have done the same. In fact, I do this all the time.

I exchange the truth that God is giving me what is best for the lie that something else would be more satisfying. I fantasize about what I might be missing out on that could be more fulfilling than what I have. And in doing so, I am answering the serpent along with Eve and saying, “Yes, I think I will take a bite of that fruit . . . it sure looks tasty.”

And isn’t this what all sin is? Choosing something rather than God because in our hearts we deceivingly believe that it will be more satisfying? I have been in conversations recently with my heart about this: “I know, Heart, that you think [insert sin] is more satisfying. But the Truth of His Word says otherwise. It is trustworthy, while you are not. You are deceiving me again, Heart. You set up one idol after another. You are deceitful above all things and desperately sick, Heart. You are a big fat liar.”

But even though my mind knows these things, it does not prevent me from longing for sin. Isn’t that ridiculous? I know that my sin is illogical. I know that it won’t truly satisfy me. I know that I am being deceived by my heart. Yet, still, I want to sin.

Wretched woman that I am! Who could possibly save me from this body of death?

Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord

Filed under: thoughts | 1 Comment

Our Snow Day Pics

28Feb10

I love how everyone I know that lives in Texas and got snow this past week is dedicating a blog post to it. I mean, if we lived in Colorado or Canada – you probably wouldn’t ever see posts about a snow day. Ahhh, the life of a Texan.

Filed under: homelife | 1 Comment

My friend Rachael

26Feb10

I have never been a cook. I have only recently learned how to boil an egg, add seasoning to chicken, and steam vegetables. The first five years of my marriage were pretty painful for Halim (who grew up with a Korean mom that cooked every single meal.) I could probably eat a sandwich or two every day and be perfectly content, but when Malachi was born and I began to stay home I decided it was time to try to learn my way around the kitchen.

Enter my friend, Rachael Ray and her show 30 Minute Meals. (No, I haven’t actually met her, but still feel like we are buddies.) I had failed numerous times when I simply tried to follow recipes from a cookbook, so I decided that I actually needed to see the magic in action. I recorded many episodes of the show and would then select the one that I wanted to try. I’d watch it all the way through once to make sure I had all the cooking gear that I’d need to make the meal and then I’d watch it a second time, pausing often to write down almost verbatim what Rachael said and make little helpful side notes like “butterfly means slice open on the side so that the chicken opens like a book.”

Here we are two years later. I’m not a gourmet chef by any means, but I’ve finally gotten to the point that I can actually prepare meals for my family and not worry that they will be inedible. Since I started out so terrible, now that I’ve finally reached the status of “novice,” Halim thinks I am a superwife (maybe it was good to set low expectations in the beginning . . .) And I’ve found that learning to cook has helped alleviate two of my great fears: 1) inviting people over to my house for dinner and 2) signing up for meal calendars. Both of these things used to make me feel nauseous. My “Rachael training” has enabled me to be more hospitable, knowing that if I prepare food for people, they probably won’t get food poisoning and may even enjoy it.

All that to say – if there are any other women out there like me that don’t have awesome culinary skills, there is hope! Because if I can learn to cook, BELIEVE ME, you can do it. I’ll introduce you to my friend, Rachael. She can help.